(LibertySociety.com) – The viral video of two NYPD officers being beaten by a group of illegal migrants on January 27 has garnered national attention over the last two weeks. New York City District Attorney Alvin Bragg held a press conference on February 2 to explain why most of the suspects arrested were released from jail without bail. Bragg said that the video evidence of the attack did not “conclusively identify each defendant” and that the city was obligated to make sure that it held the right people accountable. He said that the video of the attack was “shocking and disturbing,” but that it was necessary to charge the right suspect with the right crime.
Bragg was followed by multiple reporters just before the press conference, but he would not provide a comment or respond to questions asked. New York Governor Kathy Hochul indicated that she was not in agreement with releasing the suspects when she said they all needed to be located and deported. Only one illegal migrant was kept in jail after the attack because it was clear that he was the instigator of the fight. Upon release, four of the men who were charged reportedly fled to California after trading immigration numbers with other illegal migrants and obtaining travel vouchers from a nearby church.
On February 8, Bragg announced the indictment of seven of the illegal migrants after a grand jury recommended charges. Yoherny Brito and Darwin Andres Gomez-Izquiel, both age 19, along with 24-year-old Yorman Reveron, were charged with two class D felonies of assault in the second degree. Kelvin Arocha, 19, was also charged with two counts of assault. Video evidence showed him kicking police equipment that had been dropped. Wilson Juarez, 21, was accused of tampering with evidence, a class E felony. The other suspects’ names were still under seal at the time of Bragg’s announcement. Brito is still the only suspect in custody.
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